HC Deb 27 April 2001 vol 367 cc441-2W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 10 April,Official Report, column 575W, on the Stockholm European Council, what explanatory memoranda he has sent to the Vote or Printed Paper Offices of Parliament in respect of these documents; in respect of paragraph 9 of the Stockholm Conclusions, which body of the European Community is charged with producing a joint report on these topics; and in what manner the Government are represented on this body. [158812]

Ms Jowell

The Commission communication on the "future evolution of social protection from a long-term point of view: safe and sustainable pensions" was deposited on 27 November 2000, EM number 12793/00 (21766). The progress report of the Economic Policy Committee onthe impact of ageing populations on public pension systems was preparatory work for the Commission communication on the contribution of public finances to growth and employment: improving quality and sustainability which was sent to European scrutiny committees 15 January 2001, EM number 5260/01. This work was subsequently taken forward for the Stockholm European Council in the form of the joint Commission and Council report which was sent to scrutiny on 19 March 2001, EM number 6997/01.

The Commission's Economic Paper 138 entitled "The economic consequences of ageing populations" is a Commission internal working document and therefore not depositable in Parliament. However, this text is accessible through the Commission's section of the European Union's "Europa" website.

Paragraph 9 of the Stockholm Conclusions calls on the Commission and the Council to produce a joint report, for the Spring European Council in 2002, on how to increase labour force participation and promote active ageing. The UK Government are represented as a member state of the Council of the European Union and on the various committees which will be involved in the production of this report, for example the Employment Committee.